2011 Things.

I usually blog about the year ahead – resolutions, wishes, dreams and other girly shit like that – but this time, I thought I’d take a look back at the year past and hope that I learnt something useful*. (*Useful to me, probably completely useless to everyone else)

1. Never get your hair cut on a whim. 

In my unrelenting belief that minuscule things like a hair cut can change your life, I went to my hairdresser and told her words I will never repeat again, “I just want something different”. It’s all fine and dandy when you’re bouncing out of the salon, hair professionally teased and taking cute pictures like the one above. The first time you wash your hair AFTER the salon is the real test. I almost had a nervous breakdown trying to replicate the look and feeling of whimsy I had a mere day before. Alas, it was never to be. I tolerated it for 3 months, mostly tied it up, got it straightened and all is right in my hair world. Moral of the story: Don’t self-inflict bad hair days on yourself, especially when it’s already a given.

 

2. I have a great laugh.

Many years ago, a good friend and I were out and about, cackling away when a random guy said to us, “You girls look so pretty until you laugh”. (What a douche!) Ever since then, I had become very self conscious of my laugh. Ok, I’ll be honest, it’s not so much a “laugh” as it is a cuckoo, outburst of a cackle. There is nothing remotely ladylike about it but it is definitely real. In 2011, I had the luxury of meeting some lovely new non-douchey friends who told me they loved my laugh, that it was infectious and one even graciously kissed me right after I let one out. Brings the laugh confidence back to a girl and now, I’ve embraced it. Ok, almost embraced it.

 

3. Evan Shane

2011, I gained a wonderful godson from a dear friend. He’s got a wonderful disposition, can’t stay in one place for too long and frowns like a dude with serious problems. What’s not to like about that! In case you think I look wonderfully maternal in that photo, you should know I was shitfaced from Prosecco at the time. What a role model!

 

4. Work

That’s pretty much what working in 2011 has looked like for me. Ok, except with pajamas. It’s been a great year of freelancing, working from home – and I’ve enjoyed and appreciated every moment of it. I’ve had the luxury of working with great clients and friends who like my work and refer me to other great people. Every time I tell myself to wind down the freelancing and get back into a studio, I meet more good clients and things keep going from there. 2011 was understanding the value of time for myself and not having to justify it to anyone else.

 

 

Have a great 2012 everyone – may it be less shitty than the year before!